Mobile boat-handling apparatus

ABSTRACT

A boat hoist assembly comprises a mobile carriage structure having winch-type hoist assemblies. Slings made up of multiple sections that are connected together by specially arranged pin assemblies are attached to the hoist assemblies forming loops which support the boat.

United States Patent References Cited [72] Inventor ArnoldCJetersen N m mS Ta "H Sn N s na POmE @ANSW m ll.

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1,489,218 6/l967 France......................

Primary Examiner-Albert .l. Maka [54] MOBILE BOAT-HANDLING APPARATUS 5 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

Atmrney-Olson, Trexler, Wolters & Bushnell 294/74 B60p3/l0 A T: A boat hoist assembly comprises a mobile car- I50] Fleld oi riage structure having winch-type hoist assemblies. Slings made up of multiple sections that are connected together by specially arranged pin assemblies are attached to the ham as- Y semblies forming loops which support the boat.

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FATENTEUuuv 23 I97I SHEET 1 OF 2 Wm w ea w W ma M SHEET 2 OF 2 1. l I I MOBILE BOAT-HANDLING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to boat-handling equipment and more particularly to mobile boat hoists.

A common problem in the boat-handling equipment of the prior art is the manner in which the boats are freed from the equipment. In particular, the prior art handling equipment is ordinarily made up of boat hoists which utilize continuous single-sectioned boat-supporting slings connected at opposite ends to respective winches. As a result, when it is desired to remove the boat from the hoist assembly, the boat must first be lowered to the ground or onto blocks to relieve the straps from the weight of the boat whereby to pennit release of the strap from one of the winches for threading out from beneath the boat. Considerable time and manipulative effort are consumed in the process.

A general object of the present invention is therefore to provide a new and improved mobile boat hoist which is easy to manipulate and disassemble from a boat.

Another object of the invention is to provide multisection boat hoist slings with a quick disconnect assembly.

Still another general object is to provide an improved sling pin assembly means which is made of novel, dependable disconnect hardware.

Additional objects and features of the present invention will be apparent from the following disclosure and drawings, wherein:

FIG. I is a perspective view of a mobile boat hoist including an open-box-type carriage on wheels and multiple-sectioned slings shown supporting a boat;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the sling pin assembly used in the arrangement of FIG. 1 to couple together two sections of the sling;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the sling pin assembly, shown in its open position;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the sling pin assembly;

FIG. 5 shows a broken plan view of one section of the sling;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 shows a broken plan view of a second section of the sling with two shortening eyes and a keel buffer pad added thereto; and

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of FIG. 7.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, specifically FIG. 1, boat-handling equipment indicated generally at 10, includes a mobile, open-box-shaped carriage structure 12, winch-type hoists 14 which are connected at their upper ends to the top and inside of the carriage, and a pair of multiple-sectioned slings 16, each and which is attached to a lower end of an associated hoist. The mobile boat hoist is shown in its carrying position with a boat I8 supported on the sling 16.

The carriage structure 12 comprises a suitable number of upright posts and horizontal beams 19 disposed in a boxlike configuration as shown in the drawings. Located at the bottom of each post is a wheel assembly 20 which is used to transport the carriage 12. If desired, an operators platform (not shown) may be attached to the bottom of a post above the wheel assembly with a ladder extending down from the end thereof for facilitating use of the boat hoist assembly. Each hoist 14 carries an individual sling I6.and is made up ofa power winch 23, which is' located on a beam at the top of the carriage and which drives a starboard cable 21 and a portside cable 25. The cable 21 is windably connected at one end of the associated winch and thereafter is looped around pulley 22 and 24 with its other end securely attached to the post 19 adjacent pulley 22. Pulley 24 is connected to one end of the sling 16 by means of a hook 29. Cable 25 is connected at one end to the winch 23, looped around a pulley 24a, and thereafter attached at its other end to the post 19 adjacent winch 23. Pulley 24a is connected to the other end ofsling 16 my means ofa hook 29a.

The sling I6 is lifted uniformly at each end by energizing the power winch using controls (not shown) advantageously located near the operator's platform. The cables 21 and 25 are thus wound onto the winch in a uniform manner which winding action, in turn, lifts the respective ends of sling l6 uniformly. Each multiple-sectioned sling 16 is made up of two individual sections, sections 16a and 16b. Sections 16a and 16b are secured to each other near the keel of 18, as shown in FIG. 1, by a sling pin assembly 26. The details of this attaching device will be discussed hereinafter. The free ends of sections 16a and 16b are connected to the hoist I4 by hooks 29a and 29 respectively.

As is readily seen from inspection of FIG. 1, sections and 16b of the sling may be easily detached at a Pin assembly 26 whenever the load is otherwise supported and without the necessity of lowering the hoist l4 and detaching the sling from the hoist. Upon detaching sections 160 and 16b from each other, the carriage l2 and hoist 14 along with the rest of the structure making up the entire boat hoist assembly may be removed for further use.

For a greater appreciation of the multiple-sectioned sling and the sling pin assembly, reference is made to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. The sling 16 is made up of multiple sections 16a and 16b longitudinally connected. The end of the section I6a, which is connectable to section 16b, terminates in four tapered loops 30 in the form of splayed fingers. The end section 16b, which is connectable to section 16a, comprises four tapered loops 30a. In connecting the sections 16a and 16b and loops 30 and 30a of sections 160 and 16b respectively, are tapered to allow loops 30 to be alternately placed between loops 30a so that a pin element of the pin assembly as discussed hereinafter may be inserted through all the loops of both sections of the sling, thus securely coupling sections 16a and 16b.

The pin assembly 26 is made up of three sections, namely, a pin 26a, safety link 26b and a cotter hairpin fastener 26c. Pin 26a comprises a cylindrical beam-type fitting with a cylindrical end portion extending therefrom the entire fitting being of sufficient length to allow the pin to be inserted through all of the loops of fingers 30 and 30a of sections 160 and 16b. Located at one end of the cylindrical portion of pin 26a and bored on opposite sides thereof are hinge holes 26d used for swingably mounting the safety link 26b. The pin 26a also has a hole 26e bored parallel with the axis of holes 26d and passing through the cylindrical end portion of the pin for reception of the cotter hairpin 260 when the pin assembly is in its closed position.

The safety link 26b comprises a pair of U-shaped elements 26f, which are joined at one end forming a locking bar 263 and which are at the other. Welded across the double U-shaped section 26f are two bars 26h which permanently space the two U-shaped elements 26f to allow the free ends of these elements to be rotatably inserted into holes 26d of the pin 26a. The two U-shaped elements 26f are naturally biased towards each other, and the open ends thereof are forcibly spread for insertion in the holes 26d. The safety link 26b is of sufficient length to encompass both the pin 26a and the fingered sections 30 and 30a which are placed around the pin when the safety link is rotatably closed.

The cotter hairpin 260 is of'a type with one straight section which fits into the hole 26e of the pin 26a and a second sinusoidally shaped section which fits contiguously around the cylindrical end portion of pin 26a.

The operation of the pin assembly in combination with the sling sections is as follows: While the pin assembly 26 is in its open position as shown in FIG. 3, the pin 26a is inserted through all of the interspersed loops 30 and 30a of sections 16a and 16b respectively. The safety link 26b is then rotated from its open position to a completely closed position as shown in FIG. 2, with the confluent ends elements 26f hooking around the cylindrical end portion of pin 26a between the hole 26e of the cylindrical end portion and the cylindrical beamshape portion, thus locking looped fingers 30 and 30a together within the pin assembly. The pin assembly is then secured in its closed position by inserting the straight section of cotter hairpin 26c through the hole 26e while the sinusoidal portion of hairpin 26c clamps around the cylindrical end portion of the pin 26a.

A more detailed view of the overall sling sections may be seen in FIGS. 5 through 8. Specifically, FIGS. 5 and 6 show the sling section 16a while FIGS. 7 and 8 display the sling section 16b with a shortening eye and a keel buffer pad located thereon.

With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, the sling section 16a is constructed in the following manner utilizing specific types of fabric which will be discussed hereinafter. The sling section contains a single main layer 34 (although plural layers may also be used) which extends the entire length of the sling section. Four separate individual lengthwise extending sections 36, together equaling the width of layer 34, are attached by a plurality of rows of stitching to each other and thereafter are folded and attached to both sides of layer 34 at its end forming extending loops thereof. Corresponding medial portions of the sections 36 extend lengthwise beyond the end of layer 34 and are tapered to form the individual fingered loops 30 as discussed above. The individual fingered loops 30 comprise separate sections in order to apportion the weight being carried by the individual fingers.

Located at the other end of main layer 34 is a connection ponion 38 which is folded over endwise and stitched to both sides of a cooperatively tapered end of layer 34 forming a loop which may be attached to the hoist as described above. Folded over edge regions 40 and 41 are stitched to fingered loops 30 and loop portion 38 respectively, as shown in FIG. 5, to promote the tapered shape and give added strength to these points of the sling.

With reference to FIG. 7 and 8, sling section 16b is made in a manner similar to section 1611 with the following exceptions. Instead of four individual portions making up four fingered loops. sling section 16b uses three individual portions making up three loops at one end thereof. In addition, section 16b contains a supplemental loop or shortening eye 42 which is made up of two layers of fabric looped together and attached near to, but not at the end of, the sling section 16b by a plurality of rows of stitching as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The supplemental loop 42 is used to adjust the length of the sling 16. For example, if it is desired to shorten the length of the sling to accommodate for boat hull variations, the loop will be placed between the outermost pair of fingers 30 of section 16a. This feature of the invention creates an added advantage in that an operator may in a quick and easy manner shorten the length of the sling or order to accommodate boat size variations.

Another feature which can be readily seen in FIGS. 7 and 8 is the provision of a keel buffer pad 44. This pad is made up of a plurality of ply sections of fabric 440 selected to be lesser in width than the sling and substantially shorter in length. A suitable number of buckled belts 46 are attached to the pad 44 by a plurality of rows of stitching for use in adjustably connecting the pad 44 to the sling. In use, the keel buffer pad 44 has its belts wrapped around sling I6 and locked thereon by the buckles thereof. The keel buffer pad protects the sling from rough hull fittings and burred keel fastenings and its being adjustably positionable promotes its use.

The fabric used in making up the slings may be woven nylon or, if required, various polyester fiber blends. The slings may also be given one or more coats of neoprene which offset the deteriorating affects of the ultraviolet light component from strong sunlight and which increase the coefficient friction and thus the life of the sling. In addition, the interior of the sling fabric may be made to contain an orange center marker (not shown) which becomes exposed when the fabric begins to wear indicating when replacement is due.

The specific construction herein shown and described is illustrative only. Various changes in structure will no doubt occur to those skilled in the art and these changes are to be understood as forming a part of this invention insofar as they fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. A handling system for boats and the like comprising: suspension means including hoist means and beam means defining laterally spaced sites for sling attachment; sling means including a plurality of pliant sling sections having end portions connecte to said sites whereby to form a support loop and further having joinable intermediate portions; and pin assembly means releasably connecting said sling sections at said intermediate portions, said pin assembly means including sling section connecting pin means having a bore in one end thereof and pivot means to rotatably attach a safety link on the other end, a safety link swingably attached to said other end, and fastener pin means insertable through said bore to lock said safety link in position.

2. A boat hoist assembly as claimed in claim I wherein said sections have at their respective common ends loop means which fit in a contiguous relationship with each other whereby said sections may be attached.

3. A boat hoist assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein said loop means comprise individual tapered loops. loops of one sling section being locatable alternatively in contiguous relation with the cooperating loops of an associated sling section for connection by said pin assembly means.

4. A boat hoist assembly as claimed in claim I wherein said safety link comprises spaced, connected, U-shaped elements cooperating with said pin means in defining a selectively openable sling end confining arrangement.

5. A boat hoist assembly as claimed in claim 4 wherein said safety link further includes locking bar means at its free end swingable into locked position behind said fastener pin means.

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1. A handling system for boats and the like comprising: suspension means including hoist means and beam means defining laterally spaced sites for sling attachment; sling means including a plurality of pliant sling sections having end portions connected to said sites whereby to form a support loop and further having joinable intermediate portions; and pin assembly means releasably connecting said sling sections at said intermediate portions, said pin assembly means including sling section connecting pin means having a bore in one end thereof and pivot means to rotatably attach a safety link on the other end, a safety link swingably attached to said other end, and fastener pin means insertable through said bore to lock said safety link in position.
 2. A boat hoist assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said sections have at their respective common ends loop means which fit in a contiguous relationship with each other whereby said sections may be attached.
 3. A boat hoist assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein said loop means comprise individual tapered loops, loops of one sling section being locatable alternatively in contiguous relation with the cooperating loops of an associated sling section for connection by said pin assembly means.
 4. A boat hoist assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said safety link comprises spaced, connected, U-shaped elements cooperating with said pin means in defining a selectively openable sling end confining arrangement.
 5. A boat hoist assembly as claimed in claim 4 wherein said safety link further includes locking bar means at its free end swingable into locked position behind said fastener pin means. 